The State of the Union:The State of the Union:Electronics Recycling Electronics Recycling

Infrastructure in the USInfrastructure in the US Jason LinnellJason Linnell

Executive Director Executive Director National Center for Electronics National Center for Electronics

RecyclingRecycling

OverviewOverview NCER BackgroundNCER Background Current Data: What is the State of Current Data: What is the State of

Our Current Infrastructure?Our Current Infrastructure? The Future: What Infrastructure Do The Future: What Infrastructure Do

We Need?We Need? Infrastructure Improvement Infrastructure Improvement

OpportunitiesOpportunities Developments/ConclusionsDevelopments/Conclusions

National Center for Electronics National Center for Electronics Recycling Recycling

Mission: coordinate initiatives targeting Mission: coordinate initiatives targeting the recycling of end-of-life electronics in the recycling of end-of-life electronics in the U.S. and support actions to move the U.S. and support actions to move towards a national systemtowards a national system

Offices in Polymer Technology Park in Offices in Polymer Technology Park in Davisville, WV Davisville, WV

501(c)3 organization working with all 501(c)3 organization working with all stakeholdersstakeholders

Major initiative with CEA called National Major initiative with CEA called National Electronics Recycling Infrastructure Electronics Recycling Infrastructure Clearinghouse – Patchwork Study, BDMSClearinghouse – Patchwork Study, BDMS

Some Big QuestionsSome Big Questions Since NEPSI, it has been common to refer Since NEPSI, it has been common to refer

to an electronics recycling to an electronics recycling "infrastructure."  "infrastructure." 

What does it mean?What does it mean? # of collection points? Free or fee?# of collection points? Free or fee? Other information needed for national system Other information needed for national system  Management structure? Management structure?

Where do we stand today? Are we close Where do we stand today? Are we close to having a “national infrastructure?”to having a “national infrastructure?”

What is “Infrastructure”What is “Infrastructure” InfrastructureInfrastructure - assets of a community that include - assets of a community that include

roads, sidewalks, water provision facilities, sewage roads, sidewalks, water provision facilities, sewage removal mechanisms, alleys, street signs, pavement removal mechanisms, alleys, street signs, pavement markings, traffic lights, storm water drainage markings, traffic lights, storm water drainage facilities, swimming pools, museum structures, and facilities, swimming pools, museum structures, and other public buildings.other public buildings.

For e-recycling, we mean availability of collectors, For e-recycling, we mean availability of collectors, transporters and recyclers; ability to function as a transporters and recyclers; ability to function as a systemsystem

NEPSI Infrastructure Group: Base Level of Service, NEPSI Infrastructure Group: Base Level of Service, TPO, Performance Measures, Interim “System” TPO, Performance Measures, Interim “System” /National Coordinating Entity (NCE)/National Coordinating Entity (NCE)

What Is the State of What Is the State of Our Current Our Current

Infrastructure?Infrastructure?

Who is collecting?Who is collecting? Local Governments - i.e. at solid waste Local Governments - i.e. at solid waste

facilities, other public locationsfacilities, other public locations Charities – limitations on acceptable Charities – limitations on acceptable

equipmentequipment Recyclers – contract w/local govt, run Recyclers – contract w/local govt, run

collection events or pickup from govt collection events or pickup from govt approved locationsapproved locations

Retailers – some pilot programs, some Retailers – some pilot programs, some ongoingongoing

Manufacturers – mail-back or recycler Manufacturers – mail-back or recycler subsidiessubsidies

Per Capita CollectionsPer Capita Collections Massachusetts (2004)Massachusetts (2004)

2.94 lbs./capita (average for the 197 towns/cities 2.94 lbs./capita (average for the 197 towns/cities reporting to the MA DEP)reporting to the MA DEP)

California’s first program year (2005)California’s first program year (2005) 1.79 lbs/capita1.79 lbs/capita

Branford, CT (2004)Branford, CT (2004) 1.61 lbs./capita (CRTs only)1.61 lbs./capita (CRTs only)

Kirkland, WA (2004, curbside program)Kirkland, WA (2004, curbside program) 1.61lbs./capita1.61lbs./capita

Snohomish County, WA (2004, transfer station)Snohomish County, WA (2004, transfer station) 1.71 lbs./capita1.71 lbs./capita

Hennepin County, MN (2005)Hennepin County, MN (2005) 3.5 lbs./capita3.5 lbs./capita

Percent of Population Percent of Population Receiving “Free” Collection Receiving “Free” Collection

ServicesServices About 19% of the U.S. About 19% of the U.S. Currently or when legislated program is Currently or when legislated program is

fully implementedfully implemented Includes non-legislated state/local Includes non-legislated state/local

collection opportunities such as:collection opportunities such as: Hennepin County, MNHennepin County, MN DelawareDelaware Fraction of MA localities not charging EOL Fraction of MA localities not charging EOL

feesfees

Percent of Population Percent of Population Covered by Disposal Bans Covered by Disposal Bans

About 20% once current bans About 20% once current bans fully implemented fully implemented

States with ban, but no States with ban, but no mandated financing (yet)mandated financing (yet) MN, RI, NH, (AR)MN, RI, NH, (AR)

Collector Density (Darker = More Collectors)

Processing InfrastructureProcessing Infrastructure

E-Scrap News has identified E-Scrap News has identified hundreds of processors across the hundreds of processors across the U.S. U.S. Processing techniques and Processing techniques and

technologies utilized vary greatlytechnologies utilized vary greatly Markets for recovered materials Markets for recovered materials

are primarily off-shoreare primarily off-shore

What National What National Infrastructure Do Infrastructure Do

We Need?We Need?

Key Elements of the Key Elements of the National InfrastructureNational Infrastructure

Collection InfrastructureCollection Infrastructure Processing InfrastructureProcessing Infrastructure Information InfrastructureInformation Infrastructure Management InfrastructureManagement Infrastructure

Collection InfrastructureCollection Infrastructure

Viable collection opportunities exist in Viable collection opportunities exist in some parts of the U.S.some parts of the U.S. Outside of legislated states most utilize Outside of legislated states most utilize

EOL fees or government grant fundsEOL fees or government grant funds What percentage determines how you What percentage determines how you

define “viable”define “viable” If municipal recycling volumes are to If municipal recycling volumes are to

increase, more consumer collection increase, more consumer collection opportunities need to be developedopportunities need to be developed

Processing Processing InfrastructureInfrastructure

At a high level, adequate capacity either exists At a high level, adequate capacity either exists or could be developed relatively quickly to or could be developed relatively quickly to manage national-scale volumesmanage national-scale volumes

E-Scrap News Survey Results:E-Scrap News Survey Results: ““How long would it take to double your processing How long would it take to double your processing

capacity?”capacity?” Average response time: 3 to 4 monthsAverage response time: 3 to 4 months

Existing/potential capacity not analyzed under Existing/potential capacity not analyzed under different levels of processing standards, but different levels of processing standards, but numbers would probably changenumbers would probably change

Markets for recovered materials is a long-term Markets for recovered materials is a long-term challengechallenge

Information Information InfrastructureInfrastructure

Information across all programsInformation across all programs How much is being collected? How are these data How much is being collected? How are these data

tracked and managedtracked and managed Is it from a local/state source (not required for Is it from a local/state source (not required for

national program)?national program)? How are used electronics being managed/processed How are used electronics being managed/processed

and who qualifies to process these electronics?and who qualifies to process these electronics? Processing standardsProcessing standards Information management and reporting Information management and reporting

systems for complying with program systems for complying with program requirementsrequirements

Information Information Infrastructure (cont.)Infrastructure (cont.)

For ARF systems at POSFor ARF systems at POS Who is selling covered productsWho is selling covered products

For PP/other systems based on market shareFor PP/other systems based on market share Who is producing covered products, and in what Who is producing covered products, and in what

amounts?amounts? For PR systems based on return shareFor PR systems based on return share

What are the brands of returned products, and in What are the brands of returned products, and in what amounts?what amounts?

What company is responsible for that brand?What company is responsible for that brand? What % of these returns are orphan?What % of these returns are orphan?

For other financing systems…..????For other financing systems…..????

Management Management InfrastructureInfrastructure

Could be done by government and/or Could be done by government and/or private sectorprivate sector

California program infrastructureCalifornia program infrastructure CIWMB, BOE, DTSCCIWMB, BOE, DTSC

Maine program infrastructureMaine program infrastructure DEP, ConsolidatorsDEP, Consolidators

Washington State program infrastructure Washington State program infrastructure (under development)(under development) DOE, WMMFA, Independent PlansDOE, WMMFA, Independent Plans

Private Sector Private Sector ManagementManagement

A Third Party Organization (TPO) can offer A Third Party Organization (TPO) can offer infrastructure management, way to infrastructure management, way to implement program across state linesimplement program across state lines

Included in Northeast regional model, Region Included in Northeast regional model, Region 5 policy statement, WA law5 policy statement, WA law

Pacific NW TPO project Pacific NW TPO project 9 manufacturers on steering committee9 manufacturers on steering committee Researched legal challenges, preparing business Researched legal challenges, preparing business

plan, gathering stakeholder inputplan, gathering stakeholder input Funding and legislative guidelines will Funding and legislative guidelines will

determine TPO structuredetermine TPO structure Quasi-governmental or wholly private?Quasi-governmental or wholly private? Board exclusively of OEMs, or multi-stakeholder?Board exclusively of OEMs, or multi-stakeholder?

Private sector management under the new Private sector management under the new Dell PolicyDell Policy

What is a TPO?What is a TPO? Other terms:Other terms:

Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO)Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) Third Party Administrator (TPA)Third Party Administrator (TPA) Clearinghouse/AuthorityClearinghouse/Authority

In general, TPO understood to be:In general, TPO understood to be: Private, or semi-private organization, non-profitPrivate, or semi-private organization, non-profit Providing management of recycling system for Providing management of recycling system for

a particular waste streama particular waste stream Involving product manufacturersInvolving product manufacturers

But not necessarily associated with:But not necessarily associated with: One type of financing mechanism, financial roleOne type of financing mechanism, financial role Control solely by manufacturersControl solely by manufacturers

TPO Role in Multi-State TPO Role in Multi-State ProgramsPrograms

Multiple and very different state Multiple and very different state programs, lack of national programprograms, lack of national program How do we prevent/minimize duplicate How do we prevent/minimize duplicate

costs and decreased efficiency?costs and decreased efficiency? TPO could theoretically run systems TPO could theoretically run systems

across state lines; but challenges:across state lines; but challenges: Requires state legislatures to pass nearly Requires state legislatures to pass nearly

identical legislation AND authorize identical legislation AND authorize possible out of state entitypossible out of state entity

Potential solutions: Interstate Potential solutions: Interstate compact or tiered TPO modelcompact or tiered TPO model

Infrastructure Infrastructure Improvements: Improvements:

Projects and Projects and OpportunitiesOpportunities

Projects and OpportunitiesProjects and Opportunities How can get an accurate measure of How can get an accurate measure of

the national infrastructure?the national infrastructure? Measurement challenges at the state Measurement challenges at the state

levellevel What are the right infrastructure metrics?What are the right infrastructure metrics?

Who develops the metricsWho develops the metrics Who does the measuringWho does the measuring

Kickoff discussion at E-Scrap Kickoff discussion at E-Scrap Collaboration Workshop Collaboration Workshop

Develop short- and long-term Develop short- and long-term infrastructure development projectsinfrastructure development projects

Recent Infrastructure Recent Infrastructure DevelopmentsDevelopments

““Pilot fatigue” has set in, looking for Pilot fatigue” has set in, looking for permanent solutionpermanent solution

More direct state/local govt involvementMore direct state/local govt involvement Examples: Iowa, ChicagoExamples: Iowa, Chicago

Well-established programs see increasing Well-established programs see increasing volumes – ex Hennepin Countyvolumes – ex Hennepin County

More retailer involvement – Wal-Mart More retailer involvement – Wal-Mart pilots, new permanent program by Staples pilots, new permanent program by Staples in WA countiesin WA counties

ConclusionsConclusions

Not ready for a “drop-in” national program, Not ready for a “drop-in” national program, more development neededmore development needed Any national program requires local involvementAny national program requires local involvement Local experience with any program lacking some Local experience with any program lacking some

areasareas Many disposal bans/financing programs too Many disposal bans/financing programs too

new to analyzenew to analyze Next few years will determine effect and successNext few years will determine effect and success

Need to work on common metrics to measure Need to work on common metrics to measure progressprogress Pounds per capita, per state?Pounds per capita, per state?

Thank You!Thank You!

Jason LinnellNCERPhone: (304) 699-1008jlinnell@electronicsrecycling.org